Library News

Pasco and Mid-Columbia Libraries will begin contract negotiations next month now that the state attorney general says the city can get a la carte library services.  If negotiations do not result in a compromise, Pasco would need time to create its own library and the city may want to see if it could extend the current contract. (Tri-City Herald [Kennewick], 12.19.09) http://www.tri-cityherald.com/yahoonews/story/835767.html

Elections

The Kitsap Regional Library (KRL) Board of Trustees authorized library staff to develop a financial plan that could lead to a public vote on increased library funding in November 2010. KRL, which includes nine branches, has not put a levy to voters since its levy increase was defeated in 2007.  (Bainbridge Island Review, 12.18.09) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/kitsap/bir/community/79645902.html

Buildings

Building plans for the Newcastle library have changed. The structure will now be built in two phases, allowing the King County Library System to construct the library portion of the building before private developer Lorig Associates constructs its portion of the project, which consists of apartment units. (The Newcastle News [Issaquah], 12.4.09) http://www.newcastle-news.com/2009/12/07/library-shifts-building-plans#more-2005

The renovation and expansion of the Richland Public Library was officially celebrated Tuesday with a dedication ceremony. Ron Kathren, Richland Library’s foundation president, said the best part of the library’s renovation project is that it was finished on time and never went over budget. (Tri-City Herald [Kennewick], 12.16.09) http://www.tri-cityherald.com/yahoonews/story/832250.html

The large crowd that swept into the new Cascade Park Community Library, a part of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District, for its grand opening on Tuesday held an equally strong view.  The verdict: Ten times larger than its predecessor and flush with thoughtful amenities, east Vancouver’s new branch library has the right stuff. (Photos) (Columbian [Vancouver], 12.16.09) http://www.columbian.com/news/2009/dec/16/cascade-park-library-wows-crowd-new-community-hub/

With gaping holes in the floor and knocked out walls, remodeling of the Whitman County Library is well under way.  The $1 million project is three weeks along.  In the interim, library staffers have moved with some equipment across the street to the back and second floor of the U.S. Bank building. (Photo) (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 12.17.09)

Letters and Editorials

I’ve been studying the Renton annexation brochure and I find two glaring inconsistencies. At this point, due to these inconsistencies (Editor’s Note: See article in link below for inconsistencies), and budgetary constraints admitted by KCLS, I have strong doubts that annexation will benefit the taxpayers of Renton. (Renton Reporter [Kent], 12.11.09) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/ren/opinion/letters/78982517.html

I was saddened and dismayed to hear that the 2010 budget for the City of Ocean Shores covers only basic utilities for the library. The library is about the only branch of local government that citizens actually like to use, is open year-round to help children retain their reading skills over the summer, and helps families and individuals save money by making resources available for free. (The North Coast News [Ocean Shores], 12.16.09) http://www.northcoastnews.com/2009/12/08/a-plea-from-the-north/

On behalf of the Quincy Valley Library Foundation, a part of North Central Regional Library System, we would like to thank everyone who attended the October fundraiser in support of our new library project. We need your support for our new library.  When completed, it will benefit the entire Quincy Community. (Quincy Valley Post Register, 12.17.09) http://qvpr.com/articles/correspondence-dec-17

Now is not the time to cut library services.  Pasco residents want more service.  Pasco needs a second library. Mid-Columbia Libraries (MCL) is committed to finding a way to put a library in West Pasco. Contracting with MCL is Pasco’s best option.  (Tri-City Herald [Kennewick], 12.20.09) http://www.tri-cityherald.com/964/story/838068.html

People

Roger Lucas was honored at the December 10 meeting of the North Central Regional Library Board of Trustees for his 17 years of service on the board. Lucas has been notable as a strong advocate for library services to rural areas and especially school-age children, NCRL Director Dean Marney said. (The Star [Grand Coulee], 12.16.09) http://grandcoulee.com/articles/2009/12/16/news/doc4b291fc05338b985160400.txt

Melba Fujiura of Sunnyside was re-appointed yesterday to the Yakima Valley Regional Library Commission. Fujiura is in her sixth year as a trustee on the library commission. This is her second appointment to a four year term, which takes effect starting in January 2010. (Photo) (Daily News [Sunnyside], 12.17.09)

 

Programs and Displays

Local artists Marsha Frost Holliston will show an exhibit of her works in the art of assemblage during the month of December in the White Salmon Valley Community Library’s Sprint/Baker Gallery, a part of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District. Working with fiber, found and rusted objects, along with beads hand-stitched and glued, Holliston creates compositions that are unique studies in texture and color. (Photo) (The Enterprise [White Salmon], 12.3.09) http://www.whitesalmonenterprise.com/ARCHIVES/Story.aspx/11026/artist-to-show-works-in-fiber

The Battle Ground branch of First Independent Bank sponsored a “New Moon” blood drive November 13 . Funding raised from the blood drive supported the new Battle Ground Community Library, and Fort Vancouver Regional Library staff said event attendance was remarkable. Funding was also raised at the midnight showing of the movie. (Photo) (The Reflector [Battle Ground], 12.9.09)

Volunteers are needed to help plant a demonstration rain garden at the Freeland Library this week.  The project is sponsored by the Whidbey Island Conservation District and Sno-Isle Libraries as part of the effort to reduce the runoff reaching Holmes Harbor. (South Whidbey Record [Langley], 12.9.09)

Columbia County Rural Library District now offers a resume program and a typing instructor program for people to use on any of our six public use computers. Both of these software programs were purchased from funds through the Renew Washington Grant.  Funding for this grant is made possible from the Office of the Secretary of State, Washington State Library Division through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) originating from the Institute of Museum and Library Science (IMLS) plus money from the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. (Dayton Chronicle, 12.16.09)

A free obituary lookup service is available on the Web at the Washington State Library at www.sos.wa.gov/library/obituaries.aspx.  Find older obituaries unavailable on new Web sites. The library also has an obituary requests page on the site to explain the service. (Issaquah Press, 12.16.09)

The book “The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian,” was the pick of the first Whatcom Reads! Program that united local libraries and other community sponsors with the goal of encouraging people of all ages to read and discuss the same book.  [Editor’s note:  The grant was awarded by the Washington State Library using federal, LSTA funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services] With the state grants done, the organizers searched elsewhere for funding.  With Bellingham Public Library as the lead applicant, they won a $15,000 grant from The Big Read program at the National Endowment for the Arts.  This time, the featured book is “Old School,” a coming-of-age novel by Tobias Wolff. (Photo) (Bellingham Herald, 12.22.09) http://www.bellinghamherald.com/785/story/1213626.html

Economy/Hard Times

Some have wondered if the Friends of the Ocean Shores Library can use their funds to keep the library operating. Crystal Dingler, of the Friends, explained the group’s funding and activities: “The FOL currently have about $280,000.  Some $230,000 of that was from June Kaba, who left her estate to the FOL to expand the library, plus smaller donations and memorials, also given specifically to expand the library.  We cannot access those funds for other purposes.”  (The North Coast News [Ocean Shores], 12.9.09)

Christmas Eve won’t be a time of merriment at the Ocean Shores Library. Staff will be closing the doors and taking home personal belongings. Everything else will remain inside the building collecting dust. The city plans on closing the Library and Interpretive Center in order to help balance the $1.3 million shortfall in its general fund. The library will close on Dec. 24, and the Interpretive Center will close on Dec. 27. (Photos) (The Daily World [Aberdeen], 12.13.09)

Last week came the announcement of plans to “mothball” the library on Christmas Eve.  It seemed like Dr. Seuss came to life, the Grinch ripping the joy out of Ocean Shores, just in time for Christmas. Monday night, the “Grinches” had a change of heart.  The City of Ocean Shores has found enough money to keep the library (and Interpretive Center) open…for the next three months, at least. (Photos) (The North Coast News [Ocean Shores], 12.16.09)

At its December meeting, the Pierce County Library System’s Board of Trustees adopted the organization’s $28.6 million operating budget for 2010, with taxpayers at the center of the decision. The board did not approve its legal authority to collect 1 percent more in tax revenue, thus reducing costs to taxpayers. “We made decisions for the long-term interest of the taxpayer, who pays the bill for library services.”  (The Herald [Puyallup], 12.23.09)

[This summary of library news was created by Bobbie DeMiero and Leanna Hammond of the Washington State Library Division of the Office of the Secretary of State.  It represents a selection of newspaper clippings about Washington libraries from all Washington newspapers received in the packets on the dates shown. For more information about any of these stories, contact Carolyn Petersen at 360.570.5560 or [email protected] ]